Mets pitcher, Dwight “Doc” Gooden, set
a Major League rookie record in 1984 with 276 strikeouts
in only 218 innings. On September 12, 1984, he struck
out 16 Pittsburgh Pirates to reach 247 strikeouts, beating
the old record of 245 set by Herb Score in 1955. This
ball is the 245th, record-tying strikeout ball. Gooden’s
teammate, Rusty Staub, wrote on the ball: “Sept
12, 1984 Mets vs. Pirates Strike Out #14 of 16 for win
#16 for Dwight Gooden.” Both Gooden and Staub
signed it.